Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

(i) on 3 October 2024, questions on notice nos 3633 to 3679 were submitted, requesting that ministers of all portfolios provide specific information relating to the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in this term of Parliament,

(ii) a number of ministers responded to questions with identical answers stating that 'governments of all persuasions have used NDAs from time to time to assist in the development of policies and legislative proposals' and multiple others responded that they did not keep 'centralised records',

(iii) the answers to the questions provided by the ministers did not provide the information sought by the questions, and

(iv) order for the production of documents no. 728, requiring revised answers to be provided by 7 February 2025, has not been complied with; and

(b) if order for production of documents no. 728, has not been complied with by midday on 13 February 2025, the Senate requires the Minister representing the Prime Minister to attend the Senate at the conclusion of motions to take note of answers on 13 February 2025 to provide an explanation, of no more than 5 minutes, of why the answers have not been provided, and that:

(i) any senator may move to take note of the explanation, and

(ii) the motion may be debated for no longer than 30 minutes, shall have precedence over all other business until determined, and senators may speak to the motion for not more than 5 minutes each.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion.

Leave granted.

I move that the motion be amended in the terms circulated in the chamber, as follows:

Paragraph (b), omit "at the conclusion of motions to take note of answers", substitute "at the conclusion of question time".

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know what the amendment is. I don't know what he's talking about.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has been circulated in the chamber, Senator Thorpe. Senator Ayres, I'll give you two seconds to explain.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm happy to read it in if it assists, but it has been circulated. It is:

Paragraph (b), omit "at the conclusion of motions to take note of answers", substitute "at the conclusion of question time".

Question agreed to.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I understand that the opposition wishes the question on the amended motion to be split. I'll first put the question on paragraph (a). Yes, Senator Ayres?

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Government in the Senate has responded to the order for the production of documents, and answers to all questions on notice requested will be tabled at the time for ministerial statements, in the usual way, today.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that paragraph (a) of motion No. 791 standing in the name of Senator Thorpe, as amended, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The question now is that part (b) of general business notice of motion No. 791, as amended, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.